Most of the time, diarrhea doesn’t require treatment. It usually lasts only a couple of days, whether you treat it or not. However, medicine can help you feel better, especially if you also have cramping.

When diarrhea is a symptom of an infection caused by bacteria or parasites, antidiarrheal medicines can actually make the condition worse. This is because the medicine keeps your body from getting rid of the bacteria or parasite that is causing the diarrhea. Talk to your family doctor if you have any reason to think your diarrhea might be caused by a bacterial or parasitic infection.

Depending on the cause of your diarrhea, you may also need to take antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria. If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic for you, it’s important to talk to your doctor before taking any over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to relieve your symptoms.